IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians began its palliative care program in 2012 under the medical direction on Robert Stone, MD. Palliative care is a specialized type of medical care for people with life-threatening illnesses with the goal of improving quality of life. Palliative care often focuses on alleviating pain and symptoms associated with illnesses, such as cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS, and ALS.

Palliative care is not the same as hospice care. Treatments to cure the illness continue alongside palliative care. Hospice care is for those with a terminal illness who are no longer looking for curative treatments. Palliative care helps those with serious, life-threatening conditions who are also working with other medical doctors to cure the illness.

619 W. First St.
Bloomington, IN 47403
812.353.3717

PROVIDERS

Robert Stone, MD

Dr. Stone comes from Evansville. After high school, he attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and graduated from the University of Colorado Medical School in 1977. His original training and board certification was in Family Practice, but in 1983 he changed to Emergency Medicine and was certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine in 1987. After working in the Emergency Department in Bloomington for 28 years, he has now shifted his practice to Hospice and Palliative Medicine. During his years in the ED, he served at different times as the Director of Emergency Medicine, Chief of Staff of IU Health Bloomington Hospital, and for six years served on the IU Health Bloomington Hospital Board of Directors. He is currently the Associate Director of IU Health Bloomington Hospice and the Medical Director of the Palliative Care program and is now board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine.

Dr. Stone has three grown children and two grandchildren. He and his wife live just north of Bloomington and enjoy their garden and orchard.

Sarah Tieman, MD

Board Certified internal medicine, pediatrics

Dr. Tieman is board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. She received her medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine and completed a combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of Louisville.

Marielle Abell, PA-C

Marielle grew up in Vermont. She studied anthropology at Brown University, and went on attend Yale University’s Physician Assistant Program. Marielle has been in practice as a Physician Assistant since 2002, having worked at the IU Student Health Center from 2002-2009. In 2006, she traveled to El Salvador with Team Sight and Bite, assisting with dental procedures and eye exams. Marielle enjoys being a mom, and playing bass with Hogwire Stringband.

Dean Jones, NP

Dean Jones, NP is a certified family nurse practitioner. He earned his undergraduate degree from Indiana University and his nurse practitioner graduate degree from Ball State University. Dean also has a master of divinity degree in urban ministry. In his free time, Dean likes to play guitar, read, write and run.